Doorway stud framing and construction frame



Nov. 27, 1962 A. w. PATTlANl DOORWAY STUD FRAMING AND CONSTRUCTION FRAMEINVENTOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1959 Nov. 27, 1962 A. w. PATTlANlDOORWAY STUD FRAMING AND CONSTRUCTION FRAME Filed Sept. 16, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent ()fiice 3,%5,550 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 Thisinvention relates to improvements in wooden framing of doorway openingsin building walls, and has for its objects improved methods of arrangingthe studding and framing adjacent the roughly framed doorway opening tofinish the opening to directly receive a finished door frame, with orwithout its door and casing in place.

Another object of the invention is a doorway opening constructedaccording to the method, in somewhat varying forms.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a special aligningand construction frame-device, against which the studding or openingframing is aligned while nailing in place, yet which constructionframe-device, while adjustable for various widths and heights of doorwayopenings, will permit the free passage of a workman through it while itis in place, so that he can work on both sides of the wall as required.

A further object of the invention is such a construction frame-device asabove mentioned which will not only align the framing of a doorwayopening vertically, but also at right angles transversely of and throughthe doorway opening.

A still further object of the invention is such a constructionframe-device which, though adjusted for a particular doorway opening,may be contracted and freely removed after the wall doorway opening hasbeen framed therewith, without losing the size adjustment of theconstruction frame-device so that it can be used on successive doorwaysof the same size by a simple restoring action or operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a constructionframe-device which may be adjusted to any width desired, by theoperation of one manually operated adjusting device.

Another object of the invention is to automatically lock saidconstruction frame-device at any point of its size adjustment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thefollowing description and in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a doorway opening in a wooden stud wall framedin accordance with one form of my invention, and with my specialaligning construction frame-device as being still in place, just beforeremoval.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 thereof.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of FIG. 1 taken along the line 3-3 thereof andshowing the relation of the studs and wall framing to the constructionframe-device.

FIG. 4 is a broken off portion of a modified form of the vertical sidealigning members.

FIG. 5 is an elevation of themanually operated wrenchbar forsimultaneously expanding or contracting the width of the constructionframe-device.

FIG. 6 is a cross section of a slightly modified form of a doorway studframing as made with my special construction frame-device.

FIG. 7 is a cross section of another modified form of a doorway studframing as made with my special construction frame-device. FIG. 8 is across section of still another slight modification of adoorway studframing as made with the aid of my special construction frame-device.

'FIG. 8A is an elevation of FIG. 8 showing the extension of the plasterthickness gaging strips.

FIG. 9 is a vertical elevation of one side aligning mem her only of myconstruction frame-device showing a modified form of the top and bottommeans of securing the frame-device in place.

FIG. 10 is a vertical view of FIG. 9 showing the right or inner side ofthe aligning member.

'FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a friction pad or block for the lowersecuring means of FIG. 9 for use with a concrete floor or one wherespikes can not be used.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the upper pair of extensible arm mountingsconnecting the vertical side aligning members or channels of theconstruction frame-device.

FIG. 13 is a central cross section of FIG. 12 taken along the line 13-13showing the rack-and-pinion extensible arm control and automatic piniongear locking arrangement, also the auxiliary hand operated clampingmeans to hold the arms for movement after being adjusted.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged detail of a fine or micrometer adjustment of thearms extension to determine any clearance desired or allowance for aknown variation in the thickness of the mill-finished door frame jambs.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of one form of extensible frame aligning fingersused in setting up the construction framedevice in some situations.

FIG. 16 is a sketch showing another form of fingers which are pivoted toswing into projecting or withdrawn position.

FIG. 17 is another sketch showing a push in or out type of aligningfinger.

FIG. 18 is a cross section of one side of the construction frame-deviceshowing a hand applied locking screw pin, for holding the frame-devicein aligned position.

Before going into the detailed description it should be noted that thisinvention does not relate to the aligning of a door frame in astud-framed wall opening by means of cutting aligned seats on thestudding or cripples, or the insertion of blocks into any such seats, orthe use of wedges or shingles to vertically align and fit the wallopening to a finished door frame, but the present invention does awaywith all such time consuming artifices and quickly produces a solidlyframed stud opening ready to exactly fit and receive the finished doorjambs for nailing in place, or a pre-fabricated finished door frame asreceived from the mill, either with or without its door in place withits hinges and locks on it, or the mortising therefore completed at themill, all set-up or in knock-down condition, so that no such work at allneed be done at the job.

With the above understanding kept in mind, the details of constructionand operation will now be described.

In the drawings, with reference first to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5, thevertical side aligning members of the frame-device are designated 1, thehorizontal upper and lower connecting arms generally A and A, the upperand lower central securing brackets respectively 3 and 4, and whichitems broadly designate the frame-device shown in FIG. 1 as positionedwithin a timbered doorway wall opening, of which the last conventionalstud is designated 5 (FIG. 3), a specially arranged final stud 6, bothsupported on a sill or plate S in turn secured to the floor F, and twovertical boards 7, 7, secured as by nails against the outer sides of thefinal stud with the boards extending inwardly (toward the doorway)beyond the stud 6, with their vertical straight edges in contact withand aligned both vertically and horizontally against the straight flatouter face 1' of the aligning member 1, to form the finished openingagainst which the outer sides of the finished door frame jambs areseated and secured. The aligning members are each preferably of channelshape with its flanges designated 1" extending inwardly. The channel isof a breadth to extend entirely through and preferably beyond both'sidesof the widest wall encountered in regular frame doorway con struction,say about 7 to 10 inches, all as indicated in the drawing in FIG. 3.,though there may be two or more sizes of the frame-device if desired,but their margins which project through the roughly framed doorwayopening must be free and unobstructed to permit the placing of thevertical, boards 7 and moving them into edge contact with the extendingmargins of the'aligning members Landnailing t in place to make thefinished doorway opening, as shown in FIG. 3, to directly receive the.door'jambs thereagainst.

The aligning members 1 may be of any rigid stiff mate rial but I preferthat it beof aluminum'magnesiumor alloys whichare light in weight, andso with most of the other parts, all so that the complete frame-device.may

be easily carried about and positioned by a workman, and

to facilitate which a pair of handles 8 are provided at the I mostconvenient angle'and height at the inner side of members 1 for carryingthe frame-device upright.

In order to further lighten the frame-device, the channels maybeperforated all over the Webs as indicated at 9,; in FIG. 2, or thesesidealigning members may be built of lattice work, as shown in FIG. 4,wherein the construction 7 comprises a vertical pair of spaced stiffmembers 10, or

angle bars, connected outwardly by spaced slats 11 and which slatsformthe flat outer aligning surface required. The length or height ofthe channels '1 should be a few inches less thanthe lowest normal dooropening to clear the header H and sill Sas shown in FIG. 1, and whereinthe sillis supported on afioor F of any construction.

The connecting arms A and A should be extensible to permit theframe-device to be adjusted for'various widths of door wall openings andare shown as each being in two sections 12 and 12' slidably arrangedside by side guided by a sleeve 13 of a length to permit the sections tocoldesirable for the pinion to be locked automatically as the wrench-baris removed from the socket 1'7 and to accomplish this, the shank of thepinion extends downward into and is secured in a tubular extension 26which is rotatably supported in the fixed bearing 16, and the lower. endof the extension is formed into a tapered square socket W 17 to fit thesquared ends of the wrench-bar.

Bearing 16 isformed with annular depression 27 sur-.

rounding the upper end of the extension 26, andformed r around the outerwall of the depression is a circular row of fine teeth 28 which arenormally engaged by the matching outer edge 29'fof a small spring urgedlever 30 cross.

pivoted at 31 operating in a slot formed in the extension 26, and thelower rounded end 30 of which lever 191016 615 slightly into the squaresocket 17 so that upon inserting the end of, the wrench-bar into thesocket the lower end i l of the lever willbe pushed outwardly and swingits upper end away and. free from its engagement with the teeth. 23 andthereby unlock the pinion 15 so that it may be turned when thewrench-bar is turned, and will instantly lock the pinion again when thewrench-bar isremoved. The lever actuating spring may be a single steelwire 32 carried in a slot cut vertically in the side of the pinion shankand pressing with its upper end against the upper end of the lever. Bycareful reference to FIG. 13' the con struction should be clear, alsothat if closer control is desired, a second locking lever may besimilarly mounted at the opposite side of the extension member butspaced one-half tooth out of phase with the first one.

lapse the side aligning members to accommodate about a the smallesthousedoor or to extend for the widest generally found in modern homes. IV V The outer ends of the arms are preferably rigidly secured to theinner wall of members 1, and each arm sec tion within the sleeve 13 hassecured to it or formed thereon, a rack-bar 14 in confronting relationto a similar rack-bar 1 4' on the opposite section (see FIG. l3)-'bo'thengaged by a vertically'disposed pinionls mounted in a bearing 16 andprovided with a square socket 17 in vertical alignment with a duplicatesocket 17' at the lower As the lower set of arms have the sameconstruction as above described it is evidentthat both upper and lowerarms will be locked and unlocked at the same time and atthe same pointofextension.

As standard door generally vary in width by two inches, such. as 20,22,24, 26, 28, etc.,rthe extensible arms may have a series of definitestops so spaced, and definite engaging means on the sleeve 13cooperating I withsuch stops,rsuch definite spaced stops being shown setof arms A which have the same construction as described for the upperset of arms.

Thetwo confronting sockets and their .pinions areoperated simultaneouslyby a square ended wrench-bar designated 18 in FIG. 5, which is removablefrom the,

sockets after being turned to secure the desired expansion orcontraction of the side aligning. members '1, by retracting the upperportion of the bar into the. lower portion which' 'is tubular, by meansof a. spring locking knob 19 the shankof which operates in a slot 20 andis connected to the upper slidable portion 18'. of the bar and locksinto an; enlargement at either end of the slot to assure'the alignmentof the square ends 21 and 21' at all times, and thereby maintain thealignment of the,

square pinion sockets 17 and 17' of the upper and lower arms.

It is preferable that the proportions of the pinion be inches upon acomplete revolution of the pinion, and that the wrench-bar have astraight handle 22 extending out one or opposite sides to indicate byits position the expansion or contraction effected, and preferably alsoa circular hand grip 23 for turning the wrench-bar more quickly untilclose to the final position desired.

I When the frame sides '1 have been expanded or con-' tracted to thedesired "degree, the arms 12 and. 12; are

clamped together as by clamping screws operated by hand wheels 24 andafter which the wrench-bar is contracted by pulling outward onthe knob19 and pushing it down the slot 20 to spring inward and lock itself atthe lower end, in the enlarged portion of the slot.

Iuaddition to the hand wheel clamp screw 24, it is the spaced holes 33in the. arm 12 when alignediwith in FIGS, 1 and 14 as holes 33 in thearm, and a pin .34 or its equivalent carried by the sleeve passing through a hole in the sleeve and the 'selected'hole in the arm- But as anyvariation in the thickness of the door jambs I from the standard fromwhich the spacing of the holes was computed (to get the properclearances) would have to be taken care of, the hole in the sleeveshould be adjustable alongthe sleeve, However this requirement is met byhaving a slot 35 in the fixed sleeve 13, t and a plate or block member36 slidahly mounted on the sleeve with, a round hole 37 in it for thepin, normal-f ly positioned centrally over the slot in the sleeve belowit, and the pin 34 passing "through the hole 37 in the plate and intoneoftheround holes of the arm further below, screw means 33beingprovided for micrometrically'adjusting the block member lengthwiseof the sleeve to vary, plus or minus, the nominal extension value of thehole 37 of the blockrfor the pinto pass through.

'Of course it will be evident without an additional drawing, thatinstead of holes and a pin, there may be a of a diameter to expand orcontract the frame-device two 1 series of notches on the, arm and aspringlatch on the block to'rise and fall into the notches to designatethe.

positions, or anyother equivalent arangernent,

It should be noted that the micrometric adjustment placed on one sideonly of the upper "(or lower) arm 'fixedsleevewillnevertheless control.the otherupa-ir of arms, by reason of both pinions being operated by arigid wreneh bar, which when withdrawn (after lock- The means forsecuring the frame-device, generally plane of the building wall, atleast one of the brackets being vertically extensible as indicated forthe upper bracket 3 by the sliding portion 43 secured at any extensionby the clamp screw hand wheel 44.

Both upper and lower brackets are provided with nail holes 45 fortemporarily holding them in place, and both are provided with a pointer46 or its equivalent V notch 47 to align with a vertical center line 48marked on the upper and lower existing woodwork before erecting theframe-device. Also, the upper bracket preferably, has a central hole orV notch as at 49 from which to first hang the frame-device up on a nail50 previously driven into the header on said center line, and from whichthe frame-device, being symmetrical, will normally hang verticallybefore securing the lower end bracket in place, though one or morespirit level glasses may also be provided on the frame-device as at 51,at any convenient place, to insure the frame-device being vertical.

Preferably the frame-device should be centered in the doorway openingwitha small clearance 52 (see FIG. 3) on both sides from the last orfinal stud 6 defining the rough doorway wall opening. Also, to moreeasily align the frame-device with the plane of the doorway or the wallthere may be retractable or removable fingers 53 arranged on thealigning members 1 to project outwardly from the fiat faces of saidaligning members, to the position shown in FIG. 15, to engage the outersurfaces of studs 6 or and which fingers are withdrawn after theframe-device has otherwise been secured in place.

The removable fingers are positioned inwardly from the outer edges ofthe aligning members 1 as indicated in FIG. 15, to insure the members 1will project forwardly of the vertical plane of the studding foraligning of the vertical boards 7 against the flat faces 1 of saidmembers, and which fiat faces should also project at right anglesthrough the doorway opening and beyond the opposite vertical plane ofthe studding, for aligning the boards 7 on the other side of the wall.

In FIG. 15, the fingers 53 are formed by the extreme ends of a pair ofchat slidable bars 54 guided in loose bands 55 (or through a sleeve asdescribed for the arms .12) so as to be extensible and retractablethrough slots in the webs of the side aligning members 1.

FIG. 16 shows a form of fiat retractable finger 53 which is frictionallypivoted at 56 at one side of a bracket 57 secured to the inner wall ofmember 1 so as to permit the finger to swing through a slot 58 in member1 from the extended position shown to the retracted position as dotted,and which may be down, or up, as desired.

FIG. 17 shows another form of removable finger 53" which is slidablethrough a rigid socket 59 secured to the inner side of member 1, toproject the finger outward as shown, or the finger may be shoved in partway from the outside of member 1 and left extending the requireddistance, and in either case, entirely pulled out by the bent overhandle part 66 at one end, when no longer needed.

To more firmly secure the frame-device in place, either or both upperand lower brackets may be fitted with a spiked locking plate or bolt,operated manually, by foot or spring, and shown for the lower bracket inFIGS. 1 and 2 as a foot lever 61 pivoted to the bracket at 62 and fittedwith spikes 63 which may be forced into the sill S by pressing downwiththe foot on the lever, or released by kicking the lever upward. Thelower spike lock may take the form shown in FIGS. 9 and wherein avertically slidable bolt plate 64 is mounted on a guide or bracket 41.secured on the inner side of the aligning member 1 and with the upperend of the bolt plate 64' bent outward to permit operating by foot, or ahammer to drive its spike 65 into the sill, floor or header, as the casemay be. The bracket 41 is formed with a shoe 42 for locating it on thesill S.

At the upper end of the aligning member 1 in the same FIGS. 9 and 10 isshown one design of a spring loaded spike bolt or plate 66 with spikes67 projecting upwardly at its upper end. The plate is verticallyslidable in a bracket 68 and normally urged upward by a coil spring 69,and may be pulled down by a handle 76, and locked by a trigger 71 whichupon release will shoot the spikes into the header H, and the upwardpressure of the spring will continue and force the lower end of theframe-device downward against its lower support or spike, if used.

In general, the sill S will extend on the floor F past the doorway untilthe doorway framing is completed and is then cut away in line with thevertical inner edges of boards or strips 7 as indicated by the arrow 82in FIG. 8A, or the dotted lines X in FIG. 1, and in other cases the sillmay not extend beyond the final stud, and in such cases there may be asmooth or concrete, or even metal flooring, where spikes could not beused to secure the frame-device in place at the lower end. In such eventa short piece of sill may be temporarily secured between the two finalstuds, or a pad or block, formed with a rough frictional floor grippingunderside, or its equivalent may be used, and which can be placedbetween the spikes and the floor. Such a block of friction material isshown in perspective in FIG. 11 at 72 and with two holes 73 on top, of asize to tightly fit the spikes of the spike plate, and the underside isindicated at 74 as formed with a rough gripping surface. It is desirablethat the block be the same thickness .as the sill it replaces so as tokeep the frame-device at the same height as the sill would.

To further stabilize the frame-device against accidental displacement,as by a bump from a workman in going through it to work on the otherside, one or more hand operated screw pins may be passed through holesin the webs of both members 1 and screwed directly into studs 6, or asshown in FIG. 18 wherein the pin 75, preferably about one-fourth toone-half inch diameter, passes smoothly through a hole in a boss 76secured firmly to the inner side of member 1, and the outer end of thepin is formed with a sharp screw point 77, so that it may be driven in,and unscrewed by grasping a handle or wheel 78, the screw pin may bescrewed very tightly into the Wood, but as there is no shoulder on thescrew pin shank it will not draw the member 1 out of place, but willeffectively prevent displacement.

Some variations in wall doorway openings constructed in accordance withthe present invention are shown in FIGS. 3, 6, 7 and 8 in all of whichthe last conventional wall stud at the roughly framed doorway isdesignated respectively in the figures as 5, and with 6 being thespecially arranged or final stud or the one against the outer sides ofwhich the vertical straight edged boards or strips 7 are nailed (afteraligning their straight projecting edges against the outer flat sides 1of the framedevice). In FIG. 3 both studs are 2 x 4 size, in FIG. 6 thewall stud 5 is 2 x 4, the final stud 6 is 2 x 3 with the boards 7 of athickness to align with the outer planes of the wall stud 5, or extendbeyond as desired. In FIG. 7 the wall stud 5 is 2 or 3 x 6 and a pair offinal studs 6 are used, each are 2 x 4 with the four inch side extendingcrosswise of the wall, while in FIG. 8 both studs 5 and 6 are 2 x 4 withthe vertical boards or strips 7 nailed to the outer sides of the stud toproject outwardly beyond the width of the Wall studding to also formplaster gaging strips to align with the finished plaster 79 or its equivalent.

FIG. 8A is an elevation of the finished framing in accordance with thecross section FIG. 8 showing the improved framing as including plasterthickness gaging members or strips 80 and 81 respectively nailed to theheader H and sill S to meet the vertical boards or strips 7 which are,in this showing, of a thickness to align their outer surface with theouter surface of the plaster gaging strips 80 and 81, and extended tooverlap both the header H and the sill or plate S, and nailed thereto aswell as to stud 6, to materially reinforce the structure. This figure.also shows the sill sawed off at 82 vertically in line with the innervertical edges of the strips 7.

In none of the drawings is any finished framing of the header shown asthat is simply boxed in by the usual finished door frame head jamb andcasings, not concerned with the present invention. It should be notedthat while the twovertical edges of boards 7 are straight and true andaligned at right angles, through the doorway, they are particularlyadapted to form a rigid support, directly against whichto seat and nailthe finished jambs of a finished door frame if aligned as bycontact withmy construction framodevice' when set for the particular door frame (thenails passinginto thewboards7 and or'into the stud between them). It isobvious that the value of the invention is in no way disparaged by thefact that by making due allowance in the width adjustment of theconstruction frame-device, an additional vertical board may be nailed orplaced against the exposed verticaledges of boards 7 as shown dotted at83in FIG. 8, and the door cally locking both sets ofharrns at theidentical various points of extension desired. p

5. In a structure as set out in claim 1, a centrally posi tioned bracketfor each set of arms slidably embracing and supporting the arm sections,and the upper and lower bracket provided respectively with an upward anda downward centrally disposedextension adapted for securing it to theexisting rough doorway header, and to a floor sill member.

6. In astructure asset out in claimfi, wherein both bracket'e'xtensionsare provided with a centering indicator to check respectively against avertical center mark. made vided with a centrally disposed means adaptedfor hanging the entire frame-device from a centering pin projectjambsplaced against this extra board. Or a heavy piece of building paper, orplastic, or metal could be interposed between the exposed edges ofvertical boards '7 and the finished door jambs, and any such variationsare intended to be included in the coverage of my appended claims,

since such additions add nothing of importance.

Also to be noted that in this specification as well as in the claimswhere the words plaster, or plaster gaging strips, or equivalent areused, they are to be understood as also covering plaster board, wallboard, or composition wall slabs of any kind now frequently: used toform the wall covering in place of plaster.'

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure:by Letters Patent is:

l. A construction frame-device for completing the final framing of aroughly framed doorway wall opening, comprising two vertical rigidhorizontally spaced side aligning members connected adjacent oppositeends by rigid adjustable-'in-length arms, said side-aligning membershaving straight, flat, outer faces of a total breadth to extend throughand beyond opposite sides of a roughly framed doorway wall opening to becompleted, and means for aligning and temporarily securing saidframe-device in place in said doorway wall opening with the flat outerfaces of said members extending at right angles through.

said doorwaywall opening and vertically for the major portion of itsheighth, and with the portionsof the members. outward of the wall freeand clear of any obstructions, in the position desired for the width ofthe finished opening, and against which unobstructed straight, fiat,

outer'fa'ces of said side-aligning members the final strain-- ingmembers of the doorway wall opening are adapted to be freely placed inposition and contacted and. aligned thereby as they are nailed in placeto the roughly framed wall members. p y p 2. Ina structure as set out inclaim 1, said side-align ing members being rigid metal channels withtheir edge flanges projecting inwardly to preserve a flat unobstructedouter face.

3. In a structure as set out in claim 1, said arms being each in twomutually slidable sections and means provided for the simultaneousadjustment of the length of both upper and lower sets of arms to adjustthe overall width of'the frame-device to the finished doorway'openingdesired.

4. In a structure as set out in claim3, means automati ing fromtheheader; 7 i

8. .In a structure as set out inclaim 5, the lower bracket provided withafoot operated spike arranged to be forced down into .a'sill member toanchor the lower end of the frame-device.

9. In a structure as set out in claim3, the means for simultaneouslyadjusting the lengthof both sets of arms, comprising a bracket for eachset ofarms centrally embracing theslidable sections, and gear meansincluding a centrally operatingpinion operably carried by the bracketswith the pinions on a-common vertical axis extending to both sets ofarms, and a rigid operating bar arranged at opposite ends to engage saidpinions for the manual turning. of them simultaneously, said barbeingremovable from said pinions to provide a clear passage for a workmanthrough the frame-device.

1-0. In a structure as set out in claim 9, means forautomaticallylocking both upper and lower sets of arms in adjustedposition as the operating bar is removedand temporarily securing saidframe-device in place including at least one hand-operated. pointedscrew .pin slidably mounted on the inner sideof each side-aligningmember to project atright, angles therethrough, spaced inwardly from,the outer margins, operable freely and without any warping action orpressure against the said members. 13. In a structure as set out inclaim 1,' in which said side-aligning members are each providedwithretractable fingers mounted on their inner sides" adjacent a verticalmargin and adapated to be extended and retracted laterally outward atright angles through the fiat outer faces I of the members at pointswell within their outer margins.

V References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS409,676 Fischer Aug. 27,

578,196 Beck Mar. 2, 1897 880,252 Tennent Q ..Feb. 25, 1908 1,946,961Blade 'Feb. 13, 1934 1 2,237,777 1 Burson. Apr, 8, 1941- 2,292,806Toothacre Aug. 1 1, 1942 1 2,523,063 Roos. Sept. 19, 1950 1956 2,771,688,Baker Nov. 27,

